Selling a home can feel pretty overwhelming, and for many homeowners, the escrow process is the part that causes the most stress. Essentially, escrow is the period of time that starts once you’ve accepted an offer and lasts until the sale is officially closed. During this time, both you and the buyer work through all the necessary steps to ensure the transfer of ownership goes smoothly and legally. This often includes things like title searches, inspections, appraisals, and even repairs. If you’re going the traditional route and listing your home on the MLS, this process can stretch out for weeks or even months, depending on the situation. But here’s the thing—if you’re selling directly to Valley Home Buyer, the whole process can be a lot faster and more streamlined. With fewer steps and no middlemen involved, you could skip the drawn-out waiting game and close the sale in just a few days, leaving you with less stress and more certainty.
In this post, we’ll walk you through the typical steps of the escrow process so you know exactly what to expect when selling your home in Phoenix. We’ll also show you how selling directly to Valley Home Buyer can speed up the process and make everything a whole lot less stressful.
1) First, Opening Escrow
The first step in the escrow process is called opening escrow. Usually, the buyer’s agent takes care of this by sending the signed purchase agreement over to the escrow company. Once that happens, the escrow company sets up a file and sends out instructions to both you and the buyer, letting you know what comes next.
2) Second, Title Search and Insurance
Next up is the title search and getting title insurance. This step makes sure the property’s title is clean—meaning there aren’t any liens or legal issues that could block the sale. The escrow company teams up with a title company to handle the search and get the insurance in place, so everyone’s protected.
3) Third, Home Inspection and Repairs
Once the title search and insurance are completed, the buyer typically arranges for a home inspection. This is a crucial step where the buyer hires a professional to thoroughly check the property for any issues—big or small—that might need attention before moving forward with the sale. The inspector will look for things like structural problems, plumbing or electrical issues, roof damage, or anything that might not be immediately obvious but could affect the home’s value or safety. If the inspection uncovers any problems, you, as the seller, may be asked to handle repairs or, in some cases, offer the buyer a credit to cover the costs of fixing the issues. This can be a negotiation point in the process, and how you choose to handle it can impact the sale. In some cases, you may even decide to lower the sale price instead of doing repairs, but it’s important to keep in mind that the goal is to keep things moving forward smoothly so the buyer feels comfortable completing the sale.
4) Fourth, Appraisal
After the repairs are taken care of, the buyer’s lender will usually order an appraisal. This is to make sure the home is actually worth the price the buyer agreed to pay. If the appraisal comes in lower than expected, it could mean the buyer and seller need to renegotiate the price—or the seller might have to make more repairs to boost the property’s value.
5) Fifth, Contingencies
During escrow, there might be some contingencies—basically conditions that need to be met before the sale can close. For example, the sale could depend on the buyer getting their financing approved or the seller completing certain repairs. The escrow company makes sure all these conditions are taken care of before moving forward with the sale.
6) Sixth, Closing
Once everything in the escrow process is wrapped up, it’s time to close the sale. This is when ownership officially transfers from you, the seller, to the buyer, and the funds are exchanged. The escrow company handles all the final paperwork and makes sure the money is transferred smoothly.
As you can tell, the escrow process can be a long and stressful journey for homeowners. But here’s the good news: there’s a faster, less stressful alternative—a direct sale to Valley Home Buyer.
Finally, Why Choose Valley Home Buyer?
With a direct sale to Valley Home Buyer, you can skip the entire escrow process. Instead, Valley Home Buyer will make you an offer, and you could close the sale in just a few days. This means no waiting, no stress, and you get cash for your property faster and with less hassle.
Plus, selling directly to Valley Home Buyer comes with a bunch of other perks. For one, you won’t have to worry about making repairs or staging your home for showings. Valley Home Buyer will buy your property as-is, no matter what condition it’s in. This means less time and money spent, and a much smoother, more convenient process for you.
Another big advantage of selling directly to Valley Home Buyer is that you won’t have to deal with any real estate agent commissions or fees. When you sell through a traditional MLS listing, you usually end up paying a commission to both the buyer’s agent and your own. That can quickly add up to thousands of dollars. But with a direct sale to Valley Home Buyer, there are no fees, so you get to keep more of the sale price for yourself.
Finally, selling directly to Valley Home Buyer gives you certainty and peace of mind. When you go the traditional MLS route, there’s always a chance the sale could fall through during escrow—leaving you in a tough spot if you’re counting on it. But with a direct sale to Valley Home Buyer, you can rest easy knowing the sale will go through as planned, and you’ll get cash for your property without the uncertainty.
The escrow process can be stressful and time-consuming for homeowners, but there’s a quicker, less stressful option—selling directly to Valley Home Buyer. With a direct sale, you can skip the uncertainty and hassle of the traditional process and get cash for your property fast. If you’re ready to sell your home in Phoenix, reach out to Valley Home Buyer today and find out how we can make the process easier for you. Call us at 602-734-3662.